. . . bullshit. And always remember, if you can't figure out who's the mark, you're the mark.

"Many people who pay the huge premium—often more than 100%—for organic foods do so because they’re afraid of pesticides. If that’s their rationale, they misunderstand the nuances of organic agriculture. Although it’s true that synthetic chemical pesticides are generally prohibited, there is a lengthy list of exceptions listed in the Organic Foods Production Act, while most “natural” ones are permitted. However, “organic” pesticides can be toxic. As evolutionary biologist Christie Wilcox explained in a 2012 Scientific American article (“Are lower pesticide residues a good reason to buy organic? Probably not.”): “Organic pesticides pose the same health risks as non-organic ones.'"

Ms. Mandel also points out, "Organic farming" is a low yield operation, which non-organic is high yield. While we in the US can afford to waste land growing these low yield crops, the rest of the world cannot.

"Mothers never want to raise selfish children, but teaching them to only eat organic does just that. For the sake of our feelings alone (based on no real science about the health benefits of organic food), those who fuel the organic industry are endangering the diets of countless of others around the world who aren’t fortunate enough to stroll down their grocer’s aisle and choose among twenty different kinds of apples."

Ultimately, the real point of organic foods, and Whole Foods/New Seasons like grocery stores is to create an environment where the upper middle class can separate themselves from the hoi polloi. Like the Prius, organic is a signaling device, "I am in the club, but they are not!" It really is just that ugly.

"From the emails they get in their inbox to the contents of their cereal boxes, kids should grow up encouraged to ask questions and seek out reliable evidence. In her book, Teachable Moments, Marybeth Hicks encourages parents to use moments from everyday life to teach kids about life’s bigger lessons instead of having scheduled, intense and awkward lectures on the couch every few months. Walking down the organic produce aisle just such an opportunity for a Teachable Moment, when parents can and should have a meaningful conversation with their kids about the organic food industry and its impact on individual consumers and the wider world."

This is excellent advice.

American's over the past century have gone from lifespans of 55 years to 80, that did not happen due to organic foods, it happened due to modern mainstream farming, and wealth. If you need to be a member of the in-club, and know the secret handshake, fine, buy the organic food, or the Prius, but understand it for what it is, an emotional crutch.